Master of Defence: The Works of George Silver

Wagner, Paul

ISBN 10: 1581604246 / ISBN 13: 9781581604245

Published by Paladin Press, 2003

About this Item

344pp. Glossy orange boards, black/white lettering. Text and illustration is clean on unmarked, uncreased pages. Hinges are intact, textblock is square with pointed corners. Moderate overall shelf/timewear, boardwear, board edge and cornerwear, light spotting and smudging on textblock edges.

Seller Inventory # 117613

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Master of Defence: The Works of George Silver
• Publisher: Paladin Press
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1581604246
• ISBN 13: 9781581604245
• Binding: 4To Hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • WEAPONRY

About this title

Synopsis

George Silver's Paradoxes of Defence (1599) and Brief Instructions upon my Paradoxes of Defence (ca. 1605) are probably the most important works ever written on the Western martial tradition. Silver straddles the medieval and Renaissance worlds, summing up the collective experience of centuries of European warcraft, while presenting a fighting style that ensures victory in the urban battlefield of single combat, street brawls and honorable duels. Silver presents a complete integrated fencing system applicable to a wide variety of weapons, but more importantly provides a theoretical framework of universal principles by which to judge any technique, theory or strategy. He teaches how to identify the flaws of any enemy's fighting style, exploit his weaknesses and overcome him while remaining secure and safe, using the traditional "True Fight" of the English knightly class. In addition to presenting Silver's original works, author Paul Wagner and other scholars examine Silver's contributions, putting the Master and his legacy in context. Master of Defence is a necessity for any student of Western fencing or swordsmanship, Western or Asian martial arts, Shakespearean or Renaissance studies, English military history, medieval reenactment or professional fight choreography.

About the Author

Paul Wagner is a founding member of the Stoccata School of Defence (www.stoccata.org), where he teaches classes and courses on various English weapons - shortsword, sword and buckler, longsword, quarterstaff, backsword and rapier - as well as German sword and buckler and medieval sword and big shield.